3-052-810 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Winter - by L. Rossi, 1880. '"TO A FURRED SWEET ONE. Who can sum the charm that lies In the depths of those brown eyes? Eyes that keep the summer here Though the skies are grey and drear; Eyes that make the pallid neon Lustrous with the light of June! Let the boughs be black and bare While such brightness suns the air; Care we blossoms are away While she makes an endless May? As the shrill wind keenly blows, In those clear cheeks blooms the rose; The geranium's scarlet, plain, In those dear lips lives again; See, those eyebrows, arched and brown, Never drawn by anger down, Mated to the chestnut mist Of that hair that so is kissed Into golden glory, won From the kisses of the sun; Ah, were I that hat or feather Which that dear head shield together! Ah, were I the happy fur That so closely clings to her, That itself can softly bless Her to comfort and caress! Oh, thrice happy through the strife Of the frosts and storms of life Will he be, blessed, all above, With the warmth of her dear love, Which through all his griefs shall run Radiance, turning gloom to sun". W. C. Bennett. [We are indebted to Mr. W. Y. Baker, of Aspen House, Streatham-hill, the owner of L. Rossi's picture "Winter," for permission to copy it.]' From "Illustrated London News", Christmas number, 1880.